Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro
Key takeaways
- The Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro retails at $899
- It has high-tech features from the previous generation like Waste ID, an AI camera, and a more accurate smart scale
- The features have taken a bit to roll out and work properly.
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My favorite tech products are the ones that make my life easier, and as an owner of two cats, pet-related devices have quickly become a staple of my tech purchases. After adding a second cat, Gilligan, to the family last fall, I figured it was the perfect time to try out Whisker's new Litter-Robot 5 Pro automatic litter box.
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I was already using the Litter-Robot 4 but felt it was missing a better smart scale, something to tell the difference between waste types so you know if your cat went #1 or #2. I also wanted a smoother app experience. The new Litter-Robot 5 Pro delivered on (almost) all counts.
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Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro
The Litter-Robot 5 Pro is an upgrade to Whisker's line of self-cleaning robots, with features like Waste ID, an AI camera, and more.
The upgrades in the new Litter-Robot 5 Pro include a larger waste drawer, a dual-camera system for inside and outside the globe, and an LCD color screen for easy controls.
But as a Litter-Robot user for the past three years, a huge difference in my experience with the new Litter-Robot 5 Pro was the camera. It's set up right where your cat steps into the device, so it captures every time they walk in to use the bathroom. You can even spy on them while they are going, which feels a little like an invasion of privacy, but it helps ensure they are actually going for health reasons.
The camera uses artificial intelligence to detect which cat is which, and even has night mode. I can clearly see that Norbert walked into the litter box at 3 a.m., and then Gilligan used it at 5:30 a.m. I can also see them approaching the box before entering, which came in handy for identifying a slight limp Gilligan had that I had not initially noticed. (I took him to the vet to make sure he wasn't really hurt.) However, the AI has taken a while to properly identify my cats, and it is still learning even after 2.5 months of use.
One feature I've wanted since I got the Litter-Robot 4 is the ability to distinguish between waste types when a cat uses the litter box -- especially since excessive peeing can be a sign of urinary tract infections. Both the new Litter-Robot 5 Pro and the Litter-Robot 5 are compatible with the new Waste ID feature, which does just that, and it was officially rolled out to devices in mid-December. The technology uses dwell time and waste weight to determine if your cat went #1 or #2.
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In the app, you can see how many ounces of feces or urine your cat went (and which cat went). It will also cycle feces more quickly, so it doesn't stink up your house, and delay urine cycling so it clumps better. This feature is extremely helpful for seeing that each cat is going regularly; if there's ever an off day, we can keep an eye on them.
However, there are a couple of quirks with all these new features. While the waste ID does indicate when a cat has gone #2, it shows the ounces gone only about 30% of the time. Similarly, I thought the AI algorithm for the camera would be able to identify each of my cats by now, after a few months, but I still have to teach it which cat is which.
Whisker says it is working on a new algorithm update for both features, set to be completed by mid-April, that will drastically improve both experiences, including a new core root embedding to improve cat face recognition and better utilize data from built-in gas sensors for more accurate Waste ID.
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I've been mostly impressed with both these features so far, but I am excited for these new updates to really see how they can reach their full potential. That's also why you should hold off on buying one if you're hoping to use the newer capabilities right out of the box. We never recommend products based on the promise of future updates.
's buying advice
With all these high-tech upgrades, the Litter-Robot 5 Pro is the most expensive model Whisker has made to date, at $899. If you think about it, a human toilet costs $200-$500, so it's definitely a hard pill to swallow for some pet parents. But if you're anything like me, you always want the best for your pets, and having peace of mind is priceless.
The Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro came out at just the right time to accommodate our new two-cat household. The Waste ID has been vital in ensuring each cat has normal bathroom habits, and the AI camera has been fun to use, though not necessarily a must-have for me.
If you don't care about the camera, the Litter-Robot 5 is $100 less and still has Waste ID. And I still recommend the Litter-Robot 4 at $699.
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